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Tuesday 10 December 2024 20:50
Manchester United’s Under-19s were unable to overcome a 2-1 first-leg deficit at Old Trafford, and were thus knocked out of the UEFA Youth League by AZ Alkmaar on Tuesday night.
Over 180 minutes of closely contested football, the Dutch side – who won the 2022/23 competition – came out on top despite United dominating possession for large parts of both legs.
The young Reds threatened to turn things around under the lights in front of several thousand at the Theatre of Dreams, but AZ stood firm with a well-organised defence.
The players participated in a minute’s applause to celebrate the life of Kath Phipps, who we sadly lost last week.
Wassim Bouziane came close twice in the opening three minutes as AZ attempted an early onslaught on the United goal, seeking to extend their first-leg advantage. Bouziane’s first effort whistled wide of the right post, and Reds goalkeeper Will Murdock was forced to tip his second out for a corner.
United settled after the early test and dominated possession from thereon, aiming to break down an AZ defence equally sturdy as that on show — with the exception of a poor own goal — in the Netherlands a fortnight before.
AZ hit once before before United could work a first effort on target. Murdock saved excellently, diving down to his right to deny Bouziane yet again, this time for a header.
At Old Trafford’s East Stand goal, Kuijsten caught Amir Ibragimov’s 32nd-minute header and then got down well to prevent James Scanlon’s long shot — skipping off the surface — from finding the bottom left corner.
Only Louis Jackson’s 30-yard effort threatened the AZ goal before the break, and good though it was, Kuijsten could save.
The second half followed a similar pattern: United dominance of possession with occasional AZ threat on the break. And it was the latter that created more goalscoring opportunities, the best a one-on-one chance for substitute Jasper Hartog. Murdock made himself big and Hartog struck the crossbar.
Lawrence also turned to his bench, with Ashton Missin proving lively down the left wing with Harry Amass in support, and strikers Gabriele Biancheri and Chido Obi soon joined.
Obi ran off the defender immediately after coming on but was forced wide by his marker and for all United threw at it, the Reds couldn’t get past AZ’s excellent defence.
MATCH DETAILS
United XI: Murdock; Kamason (Obi 80), Jackson, Fredricson (c), Amass; Devaney, Fitzgerald; Scanlon (T. Fletcher 83), Ibragimov (Thwaites 58), Williams (Missin 58); Wheatley (Biancheri 80).
Unused subs: Byrne-Hughes; Munro, Baumann, Kukonki.
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Tuesday 10 December 2024 20:50
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